The Norwegians that occupied this part of Norway were generally farmers of potatoes during the mid 1800's. The latitude is about 200 miles north of Oslo. It is a rolling landscape somewhat similar to Minnesota where many Scandinavians later settled.
During the 1800's potatoes were a dominate crop and became a most important ingredient in Norwegian recipes, such as Lefsa, a potato pancake. Very much like Ireland, the wide popularity of the potato caused a population explosion and forced a dependence on the continuation of the planting of potatoes. From 1810 to 1847 the population almost doubled. By the mid- 1800's Norway experienced their own "potato famine" caused by successive failures of this most important crop. The potato blight responsible for the Irish Potato Famine caused in Norway many of the same hardships and forced the breakup of large families and emigration of many to the United States.
Unlike many Scandinavians, my own relatives came to Texas with the sanction and approval of the King of Norway and Denmark who was offered a sizable section of land for settlement by immigrating Scandinavians. The central Texas area to which they came also has low rolling hills although a much hotter climate. My own relatives became successful farmers of primarily wheat and cotton.
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